Falcons trade up for franchise QB in new 7-round mock draft
The Atlanta Falcons have a solid foundation in place but they desperately need a quarterback to take that next step in 2024 and beyond. While it sounds like head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot are planning to add a QB this offseason, their exact plans are unknown.
Will the team pull off a trade for someone like Justin Fields, sign a free agent like Kirk Cousins, or will Atlanta look to make a splash in the 2024 NFL draft? In our new seven-round mock draft, we have the Falcons trading up for an exciting QB prospect.
TRADE ALERT: Falcons acquire No. 3 pick from Patriots
Falcons receive:
No. 3 overall pick (2024)
Patriots receive:
No. 8 overall pick (2024)
1st-round pick (2025)
6th-round pick (2024)
4th-round pick (2025)
QB Desmond Ridder
Round 1, Pick 3: QB Jayden Daniels - LSU
If you’re a fan of dual-threat quarterbacks with absurd touchdown-to-interception ratios, it doesn’t get much better than LSU’s Jayden Daniels. The Heisman Trophy-winning QB lit up the SEC in 2023, passing for 40 touchdowns, four interceptions and a completion percentage of 72.2. Daniels rushed for another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Round 2, Pick 43: WR Keon Coleman - FSU
The Falcons have very little depth behind Drake London at wide receiver and Coleman would be a good value here in the second round. The Florida State product has the prototypical size for an outside receiver but lined up in the slot about a third of the time in 2023. Coleman finished the season with 50 receptions for 658 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns for the undefeated Seminoles.
Round 3, Pick 74: DL Brandon Dorlus - Oregon
Dorlus helped his draft stock with a good performance during Senior Bowl week. The versatile Oregon defensive lineman finished the 2023 season with 35 hurries, seven QB hits and four sacks. Dorlus had a true pass-rushing grade of 82.1, according to Pro Football Focus.
Round 4, Pick 109: CB Kalen King
King’s draft stock fell after a subpar 2023 season at Penn State. Here in the fourth round, though, the Falcons take a chance on King’s upside and add some depth at outside cornerback. Jeff Okudah is set to hit free agency this offseason.
Round 5, Pick 145: EDGE Grayson Murphy - UCLA
With Calais Campbell potentially on the way out, I have the team adding another defensive lineman here in the fifth round. Murphy had a pass-rush grade of 85.2 last season while adding 21 QB hits and eight sacks for UCLA.
Round 6, Pick 201: RB Frank Gore Jr.
Round 7, Pick 244: LB Jordan Magee - Temple
Mock Draft Recap/Grade
1st Round Recap
